Aa
Confused
Hi,
My previous posts describe the manner in which my situation has progressed, but I'm very confused. After 16 years of monogamy except one encounter which is apparently zero risk for transmission I have tested positive for Herpes 2 (by HerpesSelect) and my wife tested negative. I'm also convinced that while I have had other causes of symptoms (e.g. prostatitis now resolved) that I am having outbreaks. Now that I know that to look for I see small healing lesions and cracks in the skin that are accompanied by itching and burning. One group seems to emerge just as the other heals. I don't understand how this is possible. Could I have contracted this from hand to genital contact? If not then why would outbreaks start for the first time after 16 years? Can the four months of stress and anxiety caused the new emergence of outbreaks? Can you help me make sense of this?
My previous posts describe the manner in which my situation has progressed, but I'm very confused. After 16 years of monogamy except one encounter which is apparently zero risk for transmission I have tested positive for Herpes 2 (by HerpesSelect) and my wife tested negative. I'm also convinced that while I have had other causes of symptoms (e.g. prostatitis now resolved) that I am having outbreaks. Now that I know that to look for I see small healing lesions and cracks in the skin that are accompanied by itching and burning. One group seems to emerge just as the other heals. I don't understand how this is possible. Could I have contracted this from hand to genital contact? If not then why would outbreaks start for the first time after 16 years? Can the four months of stress and anxiety caused the new emergence of outbreaks? Can you help me make sense of this?
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Yes, you are correct about that study, though the increase in possibility for outbreaks is not that huge. But for you, it could certainly be true.
Terri
Terri
Thanks for the input. It just seems like a crazy situation. I read somewhere that prolonged stress (>2weeks) is shown to increase the risk of outbreaks. I guess that is the only way I can make sense of this. I've been so overwrought over the situation for months that maybe I triggered things. It's the only explanation that I can come up with but it still seems like a surreal situation.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
I do believe that you've been infected for years also. If someone did a Tzanck before, then they suspected that you had herpes. Unfortunately, that test isn't very sensitive. I don't know why you are having outbreaks now and not before, but I honestly believe that the contact you had with the stripper had nothing to do with anything. Honestly. I'm thinking you had this years before you were married.
Terri
Terri
sorry after i posted my comment I realized it was an expert forum.. Sorry I wasnt paying attention.
From all the the information I have been told about Herpes.. you probably had it all along and was never aware of it. If your wife as ever givin you a BJ, then she probablygo *** from you..or if she as ever had a cold sore on her mouth and then gae you a BJ, then she would have givin it to you.. but it is very possible.. you contracted it before you were married and it layed dorment in your nervous system. stress can cause an outbreak. THis is all information.. different docs have told me and what I have learned in me classes and from other reading.. They say 3 out of 5 people have it (Herpes) wether they know it or not!!
My HSV-1 value was 1.1 and my HSV 2 value was 7.7. No ambiguity there. My wife is neg for HSV 2 but pos for HSV 1.
Again, the way this all came about was that I had this event with a stripper with hand to genital contact. I felt incredibly guilty and became depressed about it, and I also developed pain and discomfort. In retrospect, I believe that I was having two types of pain. Pain at the tip of my penis and burning/itching of the skin. For 3 months I went to various doctors who told me that I was having anxiety symptoms. This included a dermatologist who said that the skin was normal. I finally saw a provider who took me seriously and diagnosed me with prostatitis. She did an HSV test saying that %90 of infected people are unaware. THis was treated with antibiotics, but subsequently I developed the burning and itching again. This time I am clear that there are skin changes including blisters. I think that over the course of the past several months I have had outbreaks. If the encounter was clearly zero risk why would I begin having outbreaks now? It's hard for my to not believe that despite all statements by experts I must have acquired this from the contact I described. Again, I don't doubt the diagnosis, but can't make sense of what's happened.
Again, the way this all came about was that I had this event with a stripper with hand to genital contact. I felt incredibly guilty and became depressed about it, and I also developed pain and discomfort. In retrospect, I believe that I was having two types of pain. Pain at the tip of my penis and burning/itching of the skin. For 3 months I went to various doctors who told me that I was having anxiety symptoms. This included a dermatologist who said that the skin was normal. I finally saw a provider who took me seriously and diagnosed me with prostatitis. She did an HSV test saying that %90 of infected people are unaware. THis was treated with antibiotics, but subsequently I developed the burning and itching again. This time I am clear that there are skin changes including blisters. I think that over the course of the past several months I have had outbreaks. If the encounter was clearly zero risk why would I begin having outbreaks now? It's hard for my to not believe that despite all statements by experts I must have acquired this from the contact I described. Again, I don't doubt the diagnosis, but can't make sense of what's happened.
I got tested this time because I was having penis discomfort for several months. I saw several docs who said that the skin was normal and referred me n. Finally, someone took me seriously, did a prostate exam and diagnosed me with prostatitis. She also did the HerpesSelect "just to be sure" since most infected individuals are unaware of their infection.
I definitely had other partners before my marriage. I even had simiar symptoms once prior to marriage, but they did ot last as long and I had a negative Tsanck prep at that time. I am saying that I have been with my current partner without other infidelity for 16 years without any outbreaks or transmission. I have been completely guilt ridden since the encounter that I had and more depressed than at any other time in my life. I wonder whether that has brought this out.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
you don't need to actually get me the results, only post them here exactly as they appear on the lab slip, OK?
Terri
Terri
No, I trust my wife absolutely and she is so busy that I don't even think that she would have the opportunity to cheat on me. The lesions have not been swabbed but I have no doubt that they are herpes lesions at this point. I have considered every other diagnosis. I can get you a physical copy of the results.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
And are you saying that before your marriage you never had other partners? If yes, you could have had this for years and didn't know it. Why did you get tested for herpes this time?
Terri
Terri
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Hmmm. This really isn't making any sense, if the history is correct. Are you concerned that your wife has had any other partners just recently? Have you had these lesions swab tested? Can you get a physical copy of your lab test results for me?
Terri
Terri
My wife was negative for HSV2, positive for HSV 1. My HSV1 test was around 1.2. MY HSV2 test was over 4. I haven't had any other contact outside of my marriage. Why would these symptoms change after all this time?
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Can you get a copy of your herpes antibody test results? I need to know the exact numbers associated with your positive HSV 2 results. Was your wife positive or negative? This is not contracted from hand to genital contact. Have these outbreaks been swab tested? If not, they should be!
Terri
Terri
You are reading content posted in the Herpes Forum
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
Millions of people are diagnosed with STDs in the U.S. each year.
STDs can't be transmitted by casual contact, like hugging or touching.
Syphilis is an STD that is transmitted by oral, genital and anal sex.
